I made it to the first milestone!

Well folks, I have achieved my first goal:  to fit into my wedding dress on my anniversary.  I was extremely dubious and I was sure that the zipper would be far from up but I was happily wrong!  I will admit that it was a bit of a squeeze but it did happen!  Here are the photos to prove it!

The next landmark will be to get into a new size of clothes by New Years.  Let us see how that progresses...

Long time and the Weight is not yet over...

Wow, how quickly two months can breeze by.  I must be honest and say that I have not been very good at my program of late.  I am preparing for the Vancouver Baker's Market and I have been up to my eyeballs in candy, cakes and pies (oh MY!).  It would be irresponsible of me to sell my wares without having tried them first, right?  Ah who am I kidding.  Off the wagon again but luckily still losing pounds. 
I am currently at 215 lbs and about 38 inches around.  I am happy about that and I attest my modest success to three things:  subconscious adherence to the Strict Week rules much of the time, portion control, and Curves Fitness.  I have been on my program for four months now and many of the lifestyle changes that I found so hard at the beginning are almost (I say ALMOST okay, I'm not a hypocrite) second nature.  It is easier anyway. 
Portion control is a big one.  Some people lose tons of weight on portion control alone.  I have been eating just enough to slake my hunger, not to the point of feeling full.  I eat several times in the day, pretty much when my daughter eats, and I find that if I get it right I am never really hungry.
Finally, Curves.  Horray!  I have been looking forward to starting a workout schedule and it is really working for me.  I am lucky to have the kind of muscles that build quickly and the more muscle one has, the more fat is burned.  I have only just started but I can see it as being a very good way for me to get in shape.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for gifting me the membership!
So I am going to forgive myself for any transgressions that happen this month with Thanksgiving, the Baker's Market and Hallowe'en fast approaching.  November is when I tighten the belt in preparation for Christmas feasting.  Believe me, the way we do Christmas I will need the seven weeks of good behaviour!

Plateaus and Challenges

It has been a while since I have posted.  Not that I haven't wanted to but I have had remarkably little to say.  I have discovered that July contains a LOT of cake filled birthday parties and ice cream on hot days.  I have fallen off the wagon, chased it down the road, and then stood in the middle of the road waving my arm at the retreating cloud of dust. 
Even so, I am still holding at 223 lbs and my waist measures 39 inches.  I am boarding the wagon once again because that is what you do every time you fall.  I have been learning that this path that I am following is not a cakewalk (both literally and figuratively).  I have triggers and pitfalls, moments of strength and of weakness- sounds like a video game.
In all honesty I have not pulled myself together to make weekly meal plans so the Four Lists have not really been adhered to very solidly.  I have been good about keeping to Strict Week rules for the most part and I have got to say how much better my general health is.  When you cut out irritants like dairy, gluten and sugar for the majority of your weekly fare your general well being increases greatly.

I have found a pattern of certain challenges that have come up in the past month. 
1:  Birthday parties, afternoon tea visits, going out to eat. 
It is very hard to navigate social activities, especially with traditional fare such as cake, cookies, bread etc.  I have a strange balance of not wanting to offend anyone and validating a cheat (oh well, it is a party after all...)
2:  Budgetary concerns
There are times in the month when the grocery budget dwindles to a point where the supper options are limited to frozen perogies, pizza, or pasta.
3:  Parenting
If we are running out to the park and I am making peanut butter sandwiches anyway I am not going to steam up veggies and quinoa for myself.  I do replace the jam for a banana or an apple though.

While I have an idea how to navigate these challenges, I need to organization skills to do so.  Working on that...

Ahhh Steak!

I have to tell you about steak.  Steaks have always been my Achilles Heel.  I can cook pretty much anything but I was always stumped by steak, making them invariably wooden and flavorless.  Tonight was quite different.  I looked up the Good Eats episode on steaks and it featured a technique that makes a perfect steak in about 7 minutes.  When I tried it it also produced billows of white smoke that filled my home, but also two delicious steaks that could be cut by a butter knife.  Next time I will use the barbecue.
Here is something nice that you can have as your once-a-week red meat splurge.


Have your steak(s) at room temperature when you start.  They recommended rib-eye but I used top sirloin and it worked beautifully.  Preheat your oven to 500 degrees (not the broiler) and put a cast iron skillet on the burner at almost maximum heat.  Season your steaks with a generous sprinkling of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides.  Lightly drizzle both sides with a little canola oil.  Now, turn on your stovetop fan.
Slap the steak(s) into your HOT pan and LEAVE IT ALONE for 30 seconds, flip and wait another 30 seconds.  Don't mess with it.
Pop the whole thing into your volcano hot oven for two minutes, flip the steak(s) and bake another two minutes.  Remove the pan and now it is time to rest the meat. 
Invert a saucer on a dinner plate and put your steak on top, then cover loosely with foil.  Do this with each individual piece of meat.  Let rest for ten minutes or so while you fan all the smoke out of your doors and windows and worry your neighbors (just kidding).
Remove the saucer and break out the Worcestershire. 
Serve with a nice green salad and some brown rice.  These steaks are cooked with such high heat that most of the fat is seared away, leaving just a nice juicy steak for you to enjoy.

Wednesday Weigh-In and the Wonders of Walking

Hurrah!  Progress!  This morning I weighed in at 225 lbs and my waist measurement went down to 41 inches!  We are now rolling!  Despite my recent mishaps involving cake I am pleased to see that I am getting results.  I attribute this success to my regular and rigorous walking regimen.  Wednesdays and Fridays I have a good long walk of an hour at least and the rest of the time I manage to get about that much.  It also helps that I have a really heavy and unwieldy double stroller to lug around. 
It is so important to have a walking partner who will keep you on task.  Two weeks ago on a Friday it was just pouring rain and I really didn't want to do the "big walk" but my walking buddy prodded me along and, although I got soaked, I had a good time and I felt very righteous for doing it.   
So, fill up a water bottle or two, bring a sunshade for the kids in the stroller, and slap on the sunscreen.  Also walk in the morning before it gets too hot- we are not going for unbearable here.

A Worrying Development

I shocked myself yesterday.  Over the past week or so my resolve has been tested as I am sure is the natural rhythm of any drastic lifestyle change.  I have been facing stresses within my family: husband ill, baby teething, and toddler being, well, her age.  I have not been sleeping properly and have been feeling generally strained.  This was not a good environment to also have the temptation of a table full of chocolate cupcakes (a commission from my landlady). 
Well, confession time.  I was icing cupcakes yesterday and completely lost control of myself.  Before I knew it I was slapping gobs of icing on a leftover slab of cake and shoving it into my face.  It was like I was watching myself doing it and trying to protest.  Afterward I was so disgusted with myself.  I actually went into the washroom and tried to make myself throw it all up.  That is when I took a mental step back and said to myself "what the hell are you doing?!".  I am NOT that person.
I suppose that this is rather skewed sign of commitment on my part.  A month ago I would have shrugged my shoulders and somehow validated my little gorge session.  It's just that I have been so good since I started this path and to find myself doing something so out of character is really disconcerting. 
I am realizing more and more the unhealthy relationship that I have with food when I am overtired and stressed.  I am strongly aware of my habit of comfort eating and it has been getting the better of me for too long.  The worst part of it is that because I feel down about what has happened, I want to eat more junk, even though I know that will only make things worse.
I am tempted to lock things down even more severely but I am worried that it will stop being a positive experience.  I think I will just do my best to stay the course with Strict Week during the week and a bit more relaxed on the weekends.  I have not been keeping up with the Four Lists so I am going to start writing weekly meal plans.  I think that will be the easy push to get myself back on track.
Above all, I am determined not to let this get me down.  It was a valuable learning experience about my own weaknesses and limits and I can now say that I know where I need to watch myself and to care for myself.  If I feel weak then I know there are other things afoot and I need to look after myself a little better.  

Derailed by Birthday Cakes!

This weekend was very rough on my willpower.  I had two third birthday parties to attend with my daughter.  Of course I could have refused the pizza, hot dogs, and three kinds of cake, but despite my long weeks of self-discipline the little convincing voice of the Candida Monkey was loud and clear.  Some of the excuses that ran through my mind were "you have been so good for so long, you deserve a treat", "it's a party, you should eat party food", "you wouldn't want to insult the hostess" and so on.  Seriously, I thought I was over that.  Still, I am back on track with a  good solid plan for another Strict Week.  Honestly I am starting to like eating this way.  I am buzzing with energy and feeling very clear headed, even though I am nursing a 2 1/2 month old.  Oh I miss bread and cheese from time to time, and I have always had a sweet tooth, but I find that sweetened things are so much stronger than I remember- even pasta sauce!

Weigh-in Wednesday

Well, I have been at this for two and a half weeks and until last night my scale has remained relatively unchanged.  This morning, however, I checked my weight to find that I dropped two pounds over night and am now sitting pretty at 228 lbs.  This may not seem like a big deal but after two weeks of being so strict and not seeing any progress on the scale, I was pretty glad to see the weight coming off.  That being said, even though I didn't lose pounds I have been losing width.  I forgot to get a tape measure to see just where I was last week so I will start the measuring today.  At this time my waist measures 44 inches around.  Unacceptable!  We are shooting for 32-34 inches. 
I am interested to know, even though I was doing all I could to kick start the weight loss, why it has taken so long so gradually begin to work.  I am going to write in to the Dr. Oz website to find out.  He has been such an inspiration with his gradual and healthy weight loss programs.  We'll see what they say. 
In the meantime I am trying to stay the course and not succumb to temptation which is sometimes harder than others.  This week I am taking a partial break from the Strict Week regimen and just trying to stick to my Lists.  Even so,  I find that I need to make detailed meal plans in order to maintain my discipline.  Not necessarily a bad thing, just time-consuming.  Let us see how things progress in the next week.

The Best Quinoa Salad

Sometimes it is hard to get inspired but other times inspiration hits like a bolt from the blue.  I was happily struck by inspiration the other day when I created this salad.  It has a large chunk of the components from List 1 (your daily dose of leafy greens, nuts, carrots, and whole grains) and this recipe makes enough to bring to a summer barbecue (and nobody will turn their nose up- I guarantee!).  I hope you like it.

Asian Quinoa Salad

1 1/2 c. cooked quinoa
1 carrot, grated
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 c. broccoli florets, lightly steamed
1 can baby corn, drained and rinsed
1 can chickpeas (or other bean that you prefer), drained and rinsed
1 bag baby spinach
1 c. whole raw walnuts

Dressing:

1/4 c. rice vinegar (or sushi vinegar)
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. soy sauce
1/4 c. peanut butter
4 Tbs. orange juice

Prepare the quinoa by putting 1 c. dry quinoa into 2 c. cold water.  Bring to a boil with the lid off and then stir, reduce heat to med-low, and cover.  Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  At the end of that time if the quinoa looks a bit mushy spread it out in a bowl to cool.  Meanwhile, steam your broccoli until it is bright green and still crunchy, 2-3 minutes.  Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.
Compose your salad with everything except the walnuts and spinach and stir in the dressing.  Make a bed of baby spinach in a broad bowl and pour the salad on top, then sprinkle walnuts on top.
This is a very pretty salad and so very healthy.  One variation is to substitute the quinoa with cooked chow mein noodles and you've got an asian noodle salad.
If you prefer more of a mexican flavour you can substitute the broccoli with fresh tomato and avocado chunks, use black beans or kidney beans, and use the a light ranch dressing.  Yum!

Fun facts about Strict Week

Well, this Strict Week is shaping up to be a bit easier than last week.  I have convinced my brain to accept that I am not allowed certain things and I finally think that I am convincing the Candida Monkey to shut up.  Since last week I have altered things a little.
I have always allowed an exception in my dairy rule to include yogurt, but having cut out most of my dairy consumption has done a bit of a number on my Calcium supply.  I am also breastfeeding a very robust little boy who needs his nutrients, thereby depleting mine even further.  I am now taking Calcium tablets with vitamin D along with my daily Prenatal and vitamin C.  I am also taking two Omega 3-6-9 capsules daily as I can't always get oily fish and other Omega rich foods.  I find that my mood is much more sunny when I remember to take my supplements in the morning with my breakfast.  It is important to always take supplements with food so they have something to grab on to and also to keep form getting nauseous from some of the stronger minerals like Iron and Zinc.
Next there is chocolate.  I have been doing some reading and have discovered that very good quality dark chocolate has some pretty amazing antioxidant properties.  "Cocoa and cocoa-laden dark chocolate have been identified as rich sources of antioxidants known as flavanols.  Cocoa has more cardioprotective proanthocyanidins than blueberries, more brain-saving catechins than green tea, more heart-healthy phenols than red wine.  Two tablespoons of cocoa have more antioxidants than four cups of green tea."  [Hara Estroff Marano, Psychology Today, March/April 2011].  As if I needed any convincing...  So I have included one lovely square of 70% cocoa black Lindt goodness to my daily routine.  It is a very nice treat that I allow myself once the kids are in bed at the end of the day.  An interesting side effect is that it caps any craving that might start brewing and makes me feel like I have allowed myself the decadent treat that the Candida Monkey keeps harping on about.  Bonus!  It is not even hard to limit myself to one square because the high cocoa chocolate is so potent.  So enjoy your chocolate, dear readers, as long as it is good quality and high in the magic cocoa solids.
And finally a word on gluten-free living.   I picked up a great book on cooking with whole grains (The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook by Judith Finlayson).  It is a fabulous primer for the whole grain rookie like myself because it has a complete breakdown of all the grains consumed today, their various forms, nutrition properties, fun facts, and how to cook them.  All of this before the recipe section even begins!
It was inspiring to me to know how many grains that I can consume that are gluten free and very tasty.  Grains with gluten include:  barley, rye, and all forms of wheat (such as spelt, kamut, farro, bulgur and couscous).  Gluten free grains include:  Amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, sorghum, teff, and the old favourites, corn, oats, and rice.  The latter three were ones that I wasn't certain about, but now that I know I have been enjoying my oatmeal, grits, and sushi very much.  I can honestly say that I don't miss bread at all right now.  One last word about this book:  it includes stats and information about the US and Canada equally, which is refreshing for this Canadian mama.

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in

Today is the dreaded weigh-in.  This morning after nursing the baby and using the bathroom, before breakfast and getting dressed (basically as light as I can possibly manage to be) I weighed in at 234 lbs.  That is a full 4 pounds more than my last weigh in last week.  The perplexing thing is that I am looking a bit more slim, especially around my face and neck.  I am going to investigate this, maybe there is some logic to it.  I am not too disheartened because I at least look better.

Off the wagon and on again

Today I am back on track.  Over the weekend I indeed had my pizza (home made and whole wheat, mind you) and pie (store bought, key lime, very good but next time I will make it myself).  I meant to go back to the regime on Sunday but what's a girl to do if there are leftovers?  So today I made sure I was extra well behaved.  I had rice crackers with guacamole, baby spinach and sliced red bell pepper for lunch and I felt very righteous in doing so. 
One side effect of this dramatic change in my eating habits has been a clear indication that my body is undergoing a purge.  I keep breaking out in itchy little red rashes on my back and arms, I have hot flashes, and I have moments of "spicy" temperament.  My mom, who knows of these things better than I, says that it is my liver flushing out toxins.  Having experienced similar symptoms while doing an herbal cleanse, I can confidently agree and look forward to a shiny happy liver soon enough.
I wish that the past ten days had had more of an effect on my weight so I could at least feel like I have had a good head start.  It is strange, I look like I am losing weight (yay!) but the scale says that I have gained 6 lbs.  I don't get it.  I will post the official numbers in a couple of days on Weigh-in Wednesday.
I am now going to curl up on the couch to watch Julie and Julia.  I get a kick out of the fact that she is making and eating insanely fattening food and blogging about it while I am making and eating healthy low fat food and blogging about it.  Plus the movie just makes me feel good.

My first stumble

Well, despite all of my best intentions the inevitable has happened.  I encountered the edge of my daughter's chocolate chip muffin the other morning and I admittedly ate it.  But that was merely stubbing my toe.  This morning, after only the slightest hesitation, I deliberately defrosted my own whole muffin and devoured it to the last crumb... then I ate the remnants of my daughter's again.  Big faceplant!  Of course this means that I am honour bound to endure another Strict Week.  Clearly the Candida Monkey is still speaking to me.
One thing that I have begun to realize is that I need to be creative with my Strict Week menus in order for them to appeal to my high metabolism husband and daughter.  While I can be fully content to eat a salad for my supper, both of them would be clamoring for another meal an hour later.  I picked up a whole grains cookbook at the library and I will try some of the recipes and relay my favourites.
I have decided that I will have my one allotted dessert and some homemade pizza for my Saturday dinner tomorrow- as much for my family as for myself.  I will resume my Strict Week on Sunday.

The Candida Monkey

Today is the first day that I was feeling truly weak.  Not physically mind you, but my resolve was challenged.  It started yesterday when I had to turn off the computer due to a very persistent ad featuring a particularly delicious looking cinnamon bun.  Today as I was running errands the wafting aromas from the bakery at the mall and the pizza shop on the street caused me such distress that I had to rush past telling myself "eyes front, soldier!".  At the grocery store I stared at a key lime meringue pie as though it were a priceless work of art.  I have promised myself some on Saturday when Strict Week is over and I am allowed to claim my one weekly dessert.
This morning I ate the edge of my daughter's chocolate chip muffin.  She was done with it and I told myself that it was because I didn't want it to go to waste.  Baloney!  I felt so terribly guilty afterward for having broken my vow.  It's funny how a little muffin rind can cause such stress.
My mom, who is undertaking to leave sugar behind at the same time as I am, emailed me about the little voice of the Candida Monkey.  It is true that when one is cleansing the yeast bacteria that cause Candida will send messages to your brain to make you actually believe that you need more sugar and other yeast-friendly foods.  I takes the form of a little nagging voice like an evil conscience telling you things like "oh, I have been so good lately, I deserve a little treat" or "no one is telling me I can't have it" or "I need to keep my energy up because it is going to be a busy day" and so on.  The Candida Monkey is hard to ignore because it does such a darn good impression of one's own internal voice.  The good thing is that once the Candida is gone after three or four days, it is blissfully quiet inside one's head.
I am feeling generally pretty discouraged today though.  After yesterday's discovery of an extra ten pounds and my little tryst with a muffin, I am realizing that it is going to be a big challenge to achieve this goal.  I hope that I can stick with it and make writing about it just a part of my everyday routine.  As least I can be sure that Strict Week will only last a few more days until I decide to do it again.  More water, vitamins, and more exercise will also help me to feel better about myself and this entire process.  It is always hardest at the beginning of any long term campaign and I just need to keep on pushing.  Raaaah!  Goodbye Candida Monkey!

Tipping the Scale

I did it.  Today I bought the dreaded bathroom scale.  I am not going to be content in not knowing what progress I am making.  The downside is knowing how heavy I really am.  A full ten pounds more than expected!  Granted some of that is milk but I am still one hefty mama.
Soooo this means that my goal weight is a full 60 pounds away.  Drat!

Thinking Thin

You know the old adage "think thin"?  Well I believe there is some truth to that.  I have only been doing this regimen for 2 1/2 days and I already feel slimmer (which is great until I look in the mirror and realize that it has only been 2 1/2 days.)  Still, I am having a great day today.  I woke up feeling clear and humming with energy when it usually takes a certain amount of grumbling before I launch myself out of bed.  My mind feels less foggy and I am generally more pleasant to be around.
Here is what I figure:  I have probably been full of candida for most of my pregnancy and it peaked when I had to have a huge dose of antibiotics when the baby was born.  Since then I just haven't felt right.  My digestion and complexion were poor, I had a foggy brain (granted that might have partially been due to "baby brain"), and I just felt all around polluted.  I haven't done an herbal cleanse in a couple of years due to being pregnant, breastfeeding, and then pregnant again so I know things were building up.  Now I am giving my poor ol' body a break from all of the naughty stuff that I was eating to help myself feel better (ironic) and I have to say it is so rewarding to feel immediate results, even if they are not visible.

Another thing that I am happy about is that I have finally had success in making a perfect batch of yogurt!  While this may not seem thrilling to most people, I have been trying for so long with such poor results that it is nothing short of a miracle!!  So I will now share the recipe and process with you.

Yummy Yogurt

1 L 2% milk
1 c. skim milk powder
1/2 c. plain yogurt with active cultures (room temperature)

You will also need a cooking thermometer and (the secret weapon- thanks again Alton Brown) a heating pad with a low setting.
Heat the milk to 150 degrees and add the milk powder.  Let the milk cool to 118-120 degrees and gradually stir in the yogurt.  Combine well and pour into your container (I use a tupperware).  Now wrap the heating pad around the container and secure with a rubber band.  Put a blanket or sweater over it and keep it cozy for 6-8 hours with the temperature on low (or medium if your pad is as wimpy as mine).  Refrigerate overnight and enjoy!
If the consistency is too runny then it wasn't kept warm enough, if it goes curdy then it was too hot.  This morning mine scooped like softened ice cream.  Yay!  Have fun with this, it is way cheaper than buying good yogurt and it is so fresh that the happy little bacteria do great things for your body!  Enjoy!

Recipes for Strict Week

Initially I was pretty baffled as to what I was going to eat on Strict Week.  After all, so much of our food has dairy, gluten and sugar insidiously incorporated- even in "health food".  So I did a little poking around in my multitude of cookbooks and found a couple of recipes for tasty Strict Week alternatives.

Baba Ghanouj / Hummus
The recipes for these two dips are so similar that it is a 2 for 1 recipe.

1 medium eggplant / 2 cans chickpeas drained and rinsed
1/4 c. tahini
lemon juice from 1 lemon
1 fresh garlic clove, chopped or 3 cloves lightly sauteed in olive oil
1 Tbs olive oil (more doesn't hurt)
1 tsp chopped parsley
(if the hummus is too dry you can add more olive oil and a splash of water if necessary)

Preheat the oven to 350.  Drizzle some olive oil on a baking sheet.  Halve the eggplant lengthwise, sprinkle the cut side with salt, leave for 10 minutes and pat dry with a paper towel.  Place the cut sides down on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until it is nice and soft and the skin is wrinkly.

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and zip it until creamy.  Season as desired with salt and pepper.  Enjoy with fresh cut veggies and a handful of almonds for a filling and hearty meal.

Breakfast Smoothie
In the interest of keeping my calcium up for breastfeeding I have made one dairy exception for yogurt.  I usually split this up and have it twice in the morning to boost the ol' metabolism. 

1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/4 c. soy milk or juice
4 oz frozen mixed berries
1 ripe banana
any other soft fruit that you might like
2 Tbs. hemp protein powder (or other vegan option)

Enjoy!

Strict Week and the Four Lists

I have divided my program into two disciplines:  the four lists and strict week.
The four lists are from Alton Brown's program detailing what I can and can not eat on a daily and weekly basis.  While that sounds restrictive it is kind of a fun challenge to try and include every item each day. 
The lists are as follows:

Daily:
fruit, whole grains, leafy greens, nuts, carrots, and green tea

3 Times a Week:
oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines etc), yogurt, broccoli, sweet potato, avocado

1 Time a Week:
red meat, pasta, dessert, alcohol

NEVER:
fast food, soda, processed meals, canned soups, "diet" anything

I like this approach because it is both a challenge and fun to follow.  It leaves room for a bit of naughty while building good habits towards healthy eating.  That being said I need to be honest in saying that if I fall off the wagon I will fall hard.  This is where Strict Week comes in.
Strict Week is my own invention.  I have done a number of fasts and cleanses and basically come to one conclusion: the common denominator in any cleanse diet is to cut out all dairy, sugar, and gluten as these are the three most inflammatory substances in our diet.  Strangely they are also the most common, which is probably why people are just getting fatter all the time. 
I have just started my "renovation" so I am beginning with Strict Week just to get the ball rolling.  Of course I am also following the four lists so when this week is over it will feel like a big treat to only be doing the lists.  I have vowed that if ever I fall off the wagon I am immediately launched into a Strict Week to get myself back on track.

Here is the beginning...

Today is a good day to start.
I am writing a blog... something I never expected to do, to be honest.  However, I have decided to take a page out of  Julie Powell's (Julie and Julia) book and do this to keep myself on track and accountable to more than my own guilt.
My son is eight weeks old today.  I have given myself these eight weeks to rebound from pregnancy, to get the hang of having a newborn around the house, and not to set any limitations on myself in the interest of "keeping it simple".  Now I feel like I have gotten my groove and I am ready to start looking after myself.
It has been a goal of mine for a long time to get back down to what used to be my ideal weight.  At 6 feet tall my "ideal weight" according to the fitness books is around 160 lbs.  I have only been that weight once in my adult life and it was incredibly hard to maintain.  So I have made my goal to be 170 lbs.  My default weight for years was 170 lbs and I think it is a good and realistic goal for the time being.  (That being said, I would not complain if I made it healthily down to 160).  So now I really have my work cut out for me.  I am currently sitting at about 220 lbs.
 My first checkpoint will be to get to my pre-pregnancy weight of 200 lbs by August 20th for my friend's wedding.  Next, I want to be able to fit into my wedding dress by my anniversary on October 6th.  I want to reach my goal by the time I go back to work on March 15th.
So how am I going to accomplish this?  I have very little time to myself as I am caring for a baby and a busy toddler as well as running a household.  It is enough that I am taking the time to write in this blog.  My options for exercise are very limited at least until my son starts solid food.  I will walk every day and push "The Leviathan" around (our big heavy double stroller), and I will try to get a swim and a few aerobics classes in here and there to start.  In the fall I will try to take a more structured fitness regimen but for the moment I will just do what I can.
My main objective at this moment is to get my diet in order.  I like food too much to go on a "diet" diet so instead I am opting for a sensible and maintainable solution.  I came across an episode of "Good Eats" on YouTube called "Live and Let Diet".  The host Alton Brown showed how he managed to drop 50 lbs in 9 months by just altering the way he ate.  I was inspired by his technique and I plan to use it to see if I can drop my own 50 lbs.
Wish me luck!